Literary Translation of Standing Wood for Faith

1. 文言文立木为信

Honesty is one of the traditional virtues of Chinese people. Whether in the past or at present, integrity is extremely important to the building of human society and civilization

Confucius said, "If a man does not have faith, he does not know what he can do." He believed that if a person did not keep his word, he would have no place in society and would not be able to do anything.

Wei Zheng, a famous minister of the Tang Dynasty, said, "Couples have grace, but if they are not sincere, they will leave." As long as husband and wife, father and son, and brothers treat each other with sincerity, honesty and trustworthiness, we can live in harmony and achieve the purpose of "family and all things are prospering". If the family lacks loyalty and trust in each other, the family will gradually collapse.

"Sincerity" is the centerpiece of Confucianism's way of being, and we should be honest in the world. According to Zhu Xi, a Song Dynasty philosopher, "Sincerity is a true and undelusional concept. He affirmed that sincerity is a virtue of truthfulness and non-deception. People are required to cultivate virtue and do things in accordance with the way of heaven, so as to be truthful and trustworthy. They should speak the truth, do the truth, and oppose fraud and hypocrisy. The Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining and Analysing Characters in Chinese) holds that "human words are letters," and Cheng Yi holds that "to be truthful is to be trustworthy." It can be seen that "Faith" not only requires people to speak honestly and reliably, avoiding big words, empty words, and false words, but also requires people to do things honestly and reliably. The basic connotation of "faith" is to keep one's word, to be consistent with one's words and deeds, and to be honest and not to be deceived.

"Sincerity" is mainly in terms of the way of heaven, and "faith" is mainly in terms of the way of man. Therefore, Mencius said, "Sincerity is the way of heaven; sincerity is the way of man". "Sincerity" is inherent in nature. Following the way of heaven and pursuing honesty is the truth and law of being a human being. Although there is a difference between the two philosophically, from a moral point of view, "sincerity" and "faith" are synonymous and equivalent concepts, so Xu Shen said in Shuowen Jiezi: "Sincerity, faith. Therefore, Xu Shen said in Shuowen Jiezi: "Sincerity is also faith." "Faith is also sincerity." The basic meaning is honesty, keeping promises, matching words with deeds, and being consistent with one's actions, which are the basic requirements of being a human being.

2. What is the meaning of "Standing Wood for Faith"

From Sima Qian's "The Records of the Grand Historian" - "Shang Jun Lianzhuan" in the "Standing Wood for Faith"

The decree has been made, but it has not yet been published, and I am afraid that the people do not believe in themselves, so I set up a wood of three zhang in the south gate of the national city and asked for the people to be able to migrate to the north gate to give them ten gold. People blame, do not dare to migrate. The resumption said: "those who can migrate to give fifty gold". There is a migrant, always give fifty gold, to show that not deceived. The death order.

3 Significance

The Seven Sons said: there will be courageous people under the heavy rewards, "standing wood to build trust" became the breakthrough point of Shang Yang's change of law, the great statesman is creative. Shang Yang this move, in the hearts of the people to establish the prestige, to ensure the smooth implementation of the new law, the new law so that the Qin state gradually strong, and eventually unified China. In the "wood for the letter" place, in the early it 400 years ago, but there has been a laughable "Beacon play the vassals" farce. "Standing on the wood to take the letter", a promise of a thousand words, the success of the change of law, the country's wealth and people; an emperor without faith, take their own humiliation, death of the country. It can be seen that "faith" plays a very important role in the rise and fall of a country. When I was a child, I heard the story of "crying wolf", which is the first lesson of life integrity education. "People do not have faith, I do not know what can be", "go to the food. People without faith can not stand", "with friends and not believe it?" , "faith then people also appointed", the old ancestors have always been so educated us. But in reality, the lack of integrity in the market, the lack of officialdom, the phenomenon of public trust is still serious, the result can only hinder the development. The "wood to build trust", *** should take the responsibility.

3. What does it mean to build a trust

From Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian" - "Shangjun Lianzhuan" in the Shang Yang's change of law "to build a trust" order has been set up, but not yet cloth, fearing that the people's lack of faith in their own, it is set up in the state of the city of the south door of the three feet of the wood, the collection of people can be resettlement in the north door of the person to give ten gold.

People blame it, do not dare to migrate. He said: "Those who can migrate to give fifty gold".

One person migrated, always give fifty gold, to show that not deceived. The death order.

3 significance of the seven sons said: "There will be courageous people under the heavy rewards," the "standing wood to build a letter" has become the breakthrough point of the change of law in Shang Yang, the great statesman is creative. Shang Yang's move, in the hearts of the people to establish the prestige, to ensure the smooth implementation of the new law, the new law so that the Qin state gradually strong, and ultimately unified China.

And in the "wood for the letter" of the place, in the early it 400 years ago, but there has been a laughable "Beacon Theater" farce. "Wood for the letter", a promise of a thousand words, the success of the change of law, the country rich and strong; an emperor faithlessness, self-inflicted humiliation, death of the country.

It can be seen that the "letter" of the rise and fall of a country plays a very important role. When I was a child, I heard the story of "The Wolf", which is the first lesson in integrity education.

"People do not have faith, do not know what it can be", "go to the food. People do not have faith does not stand", "with friends and not letter?"

But in reality, the lack of integrity in the market, the lack of official credibility of the phenomenon, is still serious, the results can only hinder the development.

4. "Standing wood to take the letter" of the literary text and translation

The order (refers to the order of the change of law of Shang An) both with (already ready), not cloth (published), fear that the people do not believe in their own, is (then) set up (erected) three zhang of wood in the state city (market) south door, collect (recruit) the people have been able to migrate (move) placed (put) the north door to give (given) ten gold (the unit of calculation of the loan currency in ancient times). Min strange (strange to ......) of (referring to this matter), do not dare to migrate. He also said, "Those who can migrate will be given fifty gold". If one of them migrates, he will be given fifty gold to make it clear that he will not be deceived. He finally gave the order. (From the Records of the Grand Historian)

Shang Yang erected a wood to build trust The law was complete, but not yet published, Shang Yang was worried that the people did not believe in him, so he erected a three-foot-high log at the south gate of the capital city, recruiting those who could move it to the north gate to give him ten gold. The people thought it strange that none of them dared to move it, and Shang Yang added: "He who can move it will give him fifty gold." . One man relocated the log, and Shang Yang gave him fifty gold. Shang Yang used this to show that he did not cheat the people and finally published the decree.

At that time, there were frequent wars and people were in fear. In order to build up his prestige and promote the reform, Shang Yang ordered to set up a three-foot-long log outside the south gate of the capital city, and made a promise to the public: whoever could move the log to the north gate would be rewarded with ten taels of gold. The onlookers did not believe that such an easy thing to get such a high reward, the result is that no one is willing to try.

So, Shang Yang raised the reward to 50 gold. Finally, someone stood up and carried the wood to the north gate.

Shang Yang immediately rewarded him with 50 gold. This act of Shang Yang built up his prestige in the hearts of the people, and his next change of law was quickly popularized in Qin.

The new law made the Qin state stronger and stronger, and eventually unified China.

The metaphor is to fight to the death with the enemy.

Li Zuojun, a strategist under the king of Zhao, advocated blocking the pass and sending troops to cut off the supply wagons and provisions of the Han army, so that Han Xin's expeditionary force would be defeated without any backup; but Chen Yu, a general, refused to listen to him, and insisted on fighting with the Han army face-to-face because of the superiority of his troops. Han Xin was very glad to learn of this.

He ordered his troops to camp thirty miles from the defile, and in the middle of the night, he let the generals have some refreshments, telling them to eat their fill after they had won the battle. He then sent two thousand light cavalry to advance stealthily by a small road, and told them to rush into the Zhao camp quickly after they had left it, and to change to the Han flag; and sent ten thousand troops to lure the Zhao army by deliberately arranging themselves in formation with their backs to the river.

By dawn, Han Xin led his army to attack, and a fierce battle ensued. After a short while, the Han army pretended to be defeated and returned to the waterfront, and the Zhao army all left the camp and came to pursue.

At this point, Han Xin ordered the main force to attack, and the soldiers who had formed a formation on the back of the water had no way to retreat, so they also turned back to pounce on the enemy. The Zhao army was unable to win, and was about to return to the camp, when they suddenly realized that the camp was covered with Han flags, so they scattered and fled.

The Han army pursued the attack and won a great victory. While celebrating the victory, the generals asked Han Xin: "In the art of war, it is said that the formation can be made with the back against the mountain, and the front can be in front of the water and the swamp, now you let us line up with our backs against the water, and said that we will have a full meal again after defeating the Zhao army, which we didn't believe in at that time, yet surprisingly, we won, what kind of strategy is this?" Han Xin smiled and said, "This is also in the art of war, just that you have not noticed it.

Isn't it said in the art of war that 'to be trapped in a place of death is to live, to be placed in a place of death is to survive'? If it is a place of retreat, the soldiers have fled and scattered, how can they fight for their lives!" 3. break the kettle and sink the boat kettle: pot. Break the rice pot, chisel and sink the ferry.

Metaphorically speaking, there is no way back, not to win the war, determined to do everything to the end of the Historical Records - Xiang Yu Benji: "Xiang Yu is known to lead the troops to cross the river, are sinking the boat, break the kettle cauldron, burn the hut, hold the three days of food, to show that the soldiers must be dead, none of them are still in the heart." In 209 BC, China's history broke out in a peasant uprising led by Chen Sheng Wu Guang.

After the sacrifice of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, the two armies led by Liu Bang and Xiang Yu gradually grew stronger. In 207 BC, Xiang Yu's rebel army fought against the main force of the Qin army led by Qin general Zhang Han at Julu (present-day Xingtai City, Hebei Province); Xiang Yu defied the enemy and led his troops to cross the Zhangshui River (a river that flows from northeast to southeast of Julu).

After crossing the river, Xiang Yu ordered his entire army to "all sink their boats, break the kettle and cauldron, burn the huts, and hold the food for three days to show that the soldiers will die, and none of them will return." Julu battle, the Qin army was broken, Xiang soldiers shocked the vassals.

4, Xing Shiqian Source: Song Shen Kuo "Mengxi Penyan" Volume 25: "Yuan Hao is to change the yuan, the system of clothing and rituals, ordered the country, all with the tomato book, Hu rituals, claiming to be Daxia. The court raised a division to inquire about the crime."

The meaning is to mobilize the army to denounce each other's sins. It also refers to the opinion of a big fuss, gather a group of people to go to the door to ask questions 4, uncovering the pole to rise up uncovering: lifting; pole: bamboo pole, refers to the flag.

The bamboo pole as a flag. The term is used to refer to an armed uprising.

From Han Jia Yi's "Essays on Exceeding the Qin Dynasty": "Turn hundreds of people to attack the Qin, chopping wood for soldiers, and unveiling poles as flags." During the reign of the Qin Dynasty, the population of the country was only 20 million, but was conscripted to build the Great Wall, guarding the development of the South, the construction of the luxurious Afang Palace, the construction of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, and so on servitude, combined **** with the number of two to three million people, consumed an unknown number of manpower and financial resources.

Taxes. Military service. The labor force. The criminal law is also very heavy people's burden is too heavy, life is very bitter and bitter. In 209 BC, the magistrate of Yangcheng (southeast of Dengfeng County, Henan Province) sent two officers to escort 900 civilian laborers to Yuyang (southwest of Miyun County, Beijing) for defense.

They were in a hurry to get there every day for fear of missing the date. Because the Qin dynasty's decree was very strict, if they missed the deadline, they would be killed.

When these people came to Dazhe Township (southeast of Su County, Anhui Province), they caught up with the heavy rain for days, and the road was flooded and impassable. They had to stop and wait, watching the time pass day by day.

Among the militia workers, there was one named Chen Sheng, who secretly discussed with his friend Wu Guang: "This is thousands of miles away from Yuyang, how can we go and not meet the deadline, are we going to die for nothing?" Wu Guang said, "Let's run away." Chen Sheng said, "No, if we run away and get caught, we will still die, we will die anyway, why don't we rebel and die?

I've heard that Qin Ershi is the youngest son, and his brother Fusu is the one who should be the emperor. And the general Xiang Yan of Chu is a good man, let's call on the world to fight against the Second in the name of Fusu and Xiang Yan, and the people of Chu will surely come to help us."

So Chen Sheng gathered everyone together and said, "A man can't go to his death for nothing, he has to die to make a name for himself. Is it destiny for kings and lords to die?" Everyone agreed, unanimously elected Chen Sheng, Wu Guang as the leader, nine hundred people at once the Dazhaxiang occupied, they played the "Chu" banner.

Nearby peasants heard the news have responded to the lack of weapons, they cut wood sticks to make swords and spears, cut bamboo to make flag poles, the team quickly grew up, the history of this is called the "rod up". This rebel army captured Chen County (Huaiyang, Henan Province), and Chen Sheng was recognized as the "king", and the country was called "Zhang Chu".

Under the leadership of this rebel army, people from all over the world killed officials and responded to the uprising, and a storm swept through half of China. But because the insurgent army's front was too long, the orders were not unified, in the Qin army's fierce.

6. literally Shang Yang standing wood to get the key translation of the letter

Original

order ① both with, not yet cloth, fear of the people do not believe, is to set up three zhang of wood in the south gate of the national city, recruiting the people have been able to migrate to the north gate of the people to give ten gold ②. The people blame, do not dare to migrate. He said, "Those who can migrate will be given 50 gold!" There is a person to migrate, always give fifty gold. In order to show that they are not deceived. The order was given at the end of the day. The people thought it strange that none of them dared to move the log. Shang Yang added, "The man who can move it will be given fifty gold." One person moved the wood, and Shang Yang gave him fifty gold. In this way, he showed that he did not cheat the people, and finally Shang Yang published the decree.

One year after the announcement, thousands of Qin people went to the capital to complain about the inconvenience caused by the new law. At this time, the crown prince also violated the law, and Gongsun Yang said, "The reason why the new law can not be implemented smoothly is that the upper class people take the lead in violating the law. As the prince was the heir of the king, he could not be punished, so he had his teacher, Gongzi Qi, put to death, and another teacher, Gongsun Jia, tattooed on his face as a punishment." The next day, when the people of Qin heard of this, they all obeyed the decree. Ten years after the new law was implemented, the state of Qin became peaceful, with no robbers in the mountains or on the roads. The people were brave enough to fight for the state, and did not dare to engage in private battles, and the countryside and towns were all governed. At this time, some of those who said the new law was inconvenient came back to say that it was good, and Gongsun Yang said, "These people are all unruly people who are messing with the law!" He expelled them all to live at the border. After that, the people did not dare to talk about the right and wrong of the decree.

Analysis

A word with multiple meanings: with: ready

The word is used in a variety of ways: strange (form as meaning) feel strange

Special sentence: was set up three zhang of wood in the city of the state of the south gate (mediator object postposition)

[Edit paragraph] Notes

① order: refers to the order of the Duke of Qin Xiaodong Yang for the change of the law.

② ten gold: twenty taels is one gold, or one taels. Ten gold is 200 taels.

③ Wei Yang: a native of Wei, surnamed Gongsun, Yang. He was also known as Shang Yang (商鞅), because he was granted 15 euphonies in the land of Shang (商地). He was a famous statesman who practiced the change of laws and made the state of Qin rich and strong.

④ Fu: master, refers to the official who assists the responsibility or the person who is responsible for teaching. Here it refers to the master, an elderly man who nursed and counseled the children of nobles in ancient times.

⑤ ⑤ Branding: ink torture, tattooing words on the forehead with ink nei.

⑥趋令：归附、服从命令。

⑦ Jun heir: successor.

⑧ period of years: a full year.

⑨ Tomorrow: the next day.

者，的人

徙，搬

以名不欺，表明自己不欺骗民众